Image forming apparatus with variable capacity cleaning means

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member for carrying an image; a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material; a transfer device for transferring the image from the image carrying member to the recording material carried by the recording material carrying member; and a cleaning device for cleaning the recording material carrying member, wherein, when images are formed successively on a plurality of recording materials, the cleaning capacity of this cleaning device is made larger as a distance between the rear end of a recording material and the forward end of the next recording material becomes larger.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrying member for carrying an image;   a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material;   transfer means for transferring the image from said image carrying member to the recording material carried by said recording material carrying member;   cleaning means for cleaning said recording material carrying member, wherein said cleaning means includes a cleaning member and an auxiliary cleaning member, which are capable of contacting said recording material carrying member during cleaning of said recording material carrying member; and   determining means for determining the distance between a rear end of recording material and a forward end of a next recording material when images are formed successively on a plurality of recording materials;   wherein, said auxiliary cleaning member is used selectively in order to vary a cleaning capacity of said cleaning means in accordance with the distance determined by said determining means.   
     
     
       2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means for fixing the image on the recording material, wherein a plurality of fixing speeds of said fixing means is selectable, and said distance being different in accordance with the selected fixing speed. 
     
     
       3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said apparatus allows, after the formation of an image on a first surface of a recording material, the formation of an image on a second surface of the recording material, and wherein said distance differs in accordance with whether image formation is effected on the first surface of the recording material or the second surface thereof. 
     
     
       4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said distance differs in accordance with whether the recording material is an ordinary paper or an OHP film. 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said distance differs in accordance with whether the recording material is an ordinary paper or a paper having a thickness larger than that of the ordinary paper. 
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing of movement of said cleaning member is varied in order to vary the cleaning capacity. 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving speed of said cleaning member is varied in order to vary the cleaning capacity. 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said cleaning member consists of a web. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary cleaning member is in the form of a plate. 
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning capacity of said cleaning means is larger as the length of the recording material in the direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of said recording material becomes smaller. 
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary cleaning member comprises a brush. 
     
     
       12. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrying member for carrying an image;   a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material;   transfer means for transferring the image from said image carrying member to the recording material carried by said recording material carrying member;   cleaning means for cleaning said recording material carrying member, wherein said cleaning means comprises a cleaning member and an auxiliary cleaning member, which are capable of contacting said recording material carrying member during cleaning of said carrying member, and   wherein, when images are formed successively on a plurality of recording materials, said auxiliary cleaning member is used selectively in order to vary a cleaning capacity of said cleaning means in accordance with a length of a recording material in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material.   
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein wherein the timing of movement for said cleaning member is varied in order to vary the cleaning capacity. 
     
     
       14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the moving speed of said cleaning member is varied in order to vary the cleaning capacity. 
     
     
       15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said cleaning member consists of a web. 
     
     
       16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said auxiliary cleaning member is in the form of a plate. 
     
     
       17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said auxiliary cleaning member comprises a brush.